Splice bar or fishplate



Jan. 6, 1931. L. s. WILBUR 1,787,560

SPLICE BAR OR FISH PLATE FiledJuly 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 waefiivr ummcej ZZ/ZZZZ Jan. 6, 1931. L. s. WILBUR SPLICE BAR 0R FISH PLATE Filed July 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qfzzuerkfir: ozwvzzce jaz7izzz- UNiITED iSTA Patented Jan. 6, 1931 ILAWBENCE s. WILBUR, or nvms'mommtmois srnonnm on-rrsnrmmn n ipneamn 'mea any 20.19529. '--seria1no;a79,c4s. Y

This invention relates to splice bars or fish plates for use on rail joints. It relates more particularly to splice bars or fish plates adapted to be used on old rails which have become worn and :distorted'by' use.

ing an obtuse angle on the innerfside of the bar or plate where the two straight portions 'meet, such straight portions being eitherthe top or bottom portions ofthe bar or plate, or

both, and the saidbar or plate being humped.

I g or crowned on either-the top or bottom there- I of, or on both the top a-nd bottom, whereby. to r adapt the bar or plate for proper engagement with old. and worn or distortedjrails- It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and meth- 0d steps tending to'increase. the general efli-- ciency and the desirability of a splice bar or fish plate of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends,

the invention consists in the'matters hereinafter set forth'and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Fig. 1 is a-slde elevationof a splice bar or fish plateembodying' the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a different form ofthe invention.

Fig. 3 is a. similar view, showing adifi'erent form of the invention.- t v Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bars shown in Figs. 7 10 and 13 of the drawings.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bars shown in Figs 9,12 and 15 of the-drawings.

' Fig.- 6 is a plan view Ofthe bars shown in Figs. 8, 11 and 14 of the drawings.) Fig. 7 is an end viewof the bar or plate shown in Fig.1, and-Figs.- 8 and 9. are similar views,-showin'g different forms of the in-.

vention.

Fig. 10 is an end-view of the bar or plate shlwn'iii aand Fig 11 in. 12 n"? similar: views, showing different .forms of the invention.

" .Fig. 13 is an end'view of the ba-rorplate 14andl5 are similar views, showing different forms of the invention. As thus illustrated, the splice bars shown in Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 9 arehumped or crowned on their upper sides only, whereby the bar is of greater. fishing height at the middle than at the ends thereof. Y As indicated in Fig. 7,

the bar comprises an upright web portion 1 anda top or head portion 2 and a heel portion 3 forming the, foot of the bar or plate. The;

bottom flange 4 is integral with thesaid heel portion and-extends downwardly and outwardly, as shown. The top or head portion .isbent 'or so formed that the endszthereof extend. away fromthe sides of therails, thus .forming two straight end portions, such as the end portions 5 in Fig. 4, which extend at an angle to each other to form an obtuse angle on the inner side of the-middle of the bar. The bottom of the bar or plate,;how-

ever, as shown in Figs. land 7, is perfectly straightfrom one end of thebarto the other.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the bar is formed throughout its height in such a manner that the barqcomprises two straightend portions 6 that extend away from the rails. at the ends of the bar, and that form an obtuse angle where they meet at the middle of the bar, on

the-inside of thelatter. In Fig. 9 of the drawings,only the bottom portion of the bar is bent or formed to provide straight end portions '7 and 7, disposed at an angle to each other, forming an obtuse angle on the inside ofthe bar, as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawin- S. I x %n Figs. 2, 13, 14.- and 15 the bar is crowned or humped at its bottomonly, the top being straight or level throughout the length thereof, but here again the bar: or plate is of greater fishing height at its middle than at the ends shown in Fig. '3 of the drawings, and .Figs.;- Generally stated, theiobje'ctzof the invention is to provide a splice bar or fish plate I comprising. two straight end portions which are disposed at an angle toeach other, forma thereof. In Fig. 13 only'the top or head portion of the bar is bent to form two straight' end portions forming an obtuse angle where they meet at the inside of the bar, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings; and in Fig. 14 of the drawings the entire bar is bent'to form straight end portions, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings; while in Fig. 15 of the drawings only the bottom portion of the bar is bent to form straight end portions disposed at an angle to eachother, as indicated in Fig.

5 of the drawings. In Fig. 3 of'the drawings, the'bar on-plate is humped or crowned on both the top and,

bottom thereof, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings. In Fig.1()" of the drawings, the bar or plate is bent only .at top or head to provide strai htend'portions disposed at an angle to each other, forming an obtuse angle where they meet at the middle of thebar; and in Fig.11'the entire bar, from top to bottom thereof, is bent to provide side thereof; and injFig'. 12 of'thedrawings each other, forming: an obtuse angle .where they meet at the middle of the bar, on the 1nonly the bott oni portion of the bar is bent ing an obtuse angle where they meet. at the middle of the bar, on theinside :of thell'atter.

A plan View of the bar shownin- Fi 10 wouldbe as shown in'Fig. 1 of the rawthe drawings.

ings; and. a plan view of the'bar shown in Fig ll would be as shown'in'Fig. 6 ofithedrawings; and a plan view of the bar shown in Fig. 12 wouldbe as shown in Fig. 5' of Therefore,zin each form of; the invention,

there are two straight end portions, for the :bar or fish plate, which end'portions may be;

either the'top only or the-bottom only. of the w bar or plate,*or which maybe both; but in any "event the bar is of greater fishing'heightv at the middle thereof thanat the ends of the baror plate. In other words, the straight end portions disposed at an angle: to'each 1 other may comprise only thetop or head portions of the bar'or plate, or may comprise't onlythe bottom portions'of the bar or plate,

or may comprise the entire end portions of" the bar or plate, fromtop to bottom thereof.

Bars of this kind are especially adapted for use on old rails that have become worn'or distorted by use, or by the pounding ofthe car wheels, and by the creeping action of the rails. Such wear and distortion ordinarily increase the fishing-height on the sides of the rail, at the meeting ends'thereof, at opposite sides of the rail joint, and hence the desirability of having the bars of greater fishing I. height at the center thereof, or at the middle, j than at the ends of the bar or plate. In addition, each bar or plate, asshown, has an ob tuse angle on its inner side, at its middle, and

resh'apedor reformed, as itzis more economi- Qaltoproduce the barsthis way than by producing them fromnewstock. If desired, in

'-the reshaping or reforming of old bars, the

entire ,bar can be increased in height, some- ,what," as by reducing web orbar 1 of t he plate, thus further adapting the bars or plates for use on rails which whave becomeworn toithe extent the fishing height on-thesides of the rails-:has been straight end portions disposed at anangle to the bars shown anddescribed are old bars the thickness of the v *increasedthroughout the length ofthe splice used incombination with each other, in one 01" formed to provide straight end portions disposed at an angle to each other and form-- ahd the 'sameflunitary' structure. For ex- ..ample, two different forms of the invention canbe usedon opposite sides of the same rail j oint'; also,ithedifi'erent forms ofthe invenof her being used here or'there depending upon the'worn-or distorted condition of the *rails, some'railsl' accommodating one form of bar:or another, to advantage, and some a different formpbut thedifferent bars cooperating with each other to maintain the continuity ofithe rails.

I'What I claim 'as'my inventionis:

1. A- splice bar. or fish plate for rail joints, comprising. straight end portions disposed at an angle to each other, forming an obtuse angle onthe insidelof the bar or plate, said bar or plate being of greater fishing height at its middle than at the ends.

2.;A structure as specified in claim 1, said straight end portions comprising the top or head portion only of the bars 3. A structure as specified in claim 1', said 7 straight end portions comprisingthe bot- .tom only of the bar.

I 4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said straight end portions comprising both the top and bottom of the bar.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said bar orplate' being humped or crowned at its t'oponly,'to provide said greater height at the middle of the bar.

'6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said bar or plate being humped or crowned on its bottom only, whereby to provide said greater fishing height at the middle of the bar. 7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said bar or plate 'beinghumped or crowned on both the top and bottom thereof, thereby to provide said greater height for the middle of the bar. p v

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said bar or plate being an old bar reshaped or reformed in the desired manner, of increased fishing height throughout its length as compared with the' original bar.

Specification signed this 29th day of June,

i I LAWRENCE S WILBUR. 

